Interview with Noelle Sullivan [dunraven] on Whohub

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Interview with:

Noelle Sullivan [dunraven]

WRITING

	What did you first read? How did you begin to write? Who were the first to read what you wrote? Novels, poems, histories, captions. Writing was a way to combine all my life's interests--investigating subjects, following curious ruts, and putting words on a page. Writing reflects and determines who we are. Language moulds us, as we mould the world within our reach. Little writing lasts past our own time, yet there's always the chance that it might influence the dreams and stories of future generations--anonymous readers, all.
	What is your favorite genre? Can you provide a link to a site where we can read some of your work or learn something about it? I love Irish and Irish-American literature, with Irish and American history. I write a blog for Montana Irish news, arts, and literature, http://www.MontanaGael.blogspot.com. My poems and short fiction have appeared in literary magazines, and my story "New Deal" appears the THE NEW MONTANA STORY (Riverbend, 2003). I've also written several small histories, including M-E ECCI AASHI AWADI: THE KNIFE RIVER INDIAN VILLAGES and IT HAPPENED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
	What is your creative process like? What happens before sitting down to write? I'm a morning writer. Mother of three, in a very small house, I need the silence of the dawn and the pale, uninterrupted skyline.
	What do you think are the basic ingredients of a story? Love and struggle.
	Are you equally good at telling stories orally? I am a terrible storyteller but a fairly good conversationalist.
	Do you participate in competitions? Have you received any awards? I was a Montana Arts Council Fellow in 1998. Montana Gael was nominated in the "specialist blog" category for the Irish Blog Awards 2009, which makes me extremely happy--high praise to rank among the verbose Irish. My poem "Los Lunas" won second place in the W. B. Yeats Society of New York's 2009 poetry competition, judged by Alice Quinn.
	What discipline do you impose on yourself regarding schedules, goals, etc.? I stopped writing for seven years, while my children were toddlers. Now I feel as though my time's running out, so I've got to be productive. I write for an hour every morning, and spend another two hours on organization, planning, clearing, more. I wish I could say I kept my journal on a regular basis, but my blog's become my stream of consciousness.

BLOGGING

	What was it that made you create your blog? On what date did you start it? I started Montana Gael for my own sake, to weave all the tattered threads of my own writing together, but I also wanted to provide an up-to-date, clever outlet for Montana Irish arts and news. I started blogging on October 25, 2008.
	How do you see your blog evolving in the future? I'd like it to become an online magazine for Montana and Irish writers. It could be a collection of literary links. The calendar section is useful in a state of wide open space, and I hope more people will comment and contribute. I see it as a group effort in the end, not so much my own outlet.

CULTURE

Have you ever bought works of art? What type of art? What compels you to purchase art?

Art is the only mark we have of our time. It's vital! I buy art whenever my wallet is full.